McKenzie's Bisabuela

by Yaritza Villalba, Jen Leban (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet McKenzie. A young girl who loves history, traveling, adventures, and the outdoors. She is the youngest in a family where almost all of the elders were born in Panamá. Many share the last name Leinch while others, including her mother, have unique last names like Villalba, Perez, Jimenez, Bailey, Kidd, and Kennedy. This may be a bit confusing, but it tells the story about her family's history and experiences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781990566202
Publisher:	X-Factor EDU
Publication date:	08/09/2022
Pages:	44
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.11(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hi there, I am Yaritza Villalba. Family traditions and cultures are what bonds civilizations of the past and present. Since I was a young girl, my family emphasized the importance of preserving our Afro-Panamanian culture through celebrations, story telling, and dance. This was my first look at the true essence of the establishment of a community that preserved and honored Afro-latino culture. In 1991, after surviving the harsh conditions caused by the United States invasion of Panama, we migrated to America in search of the American dream. Through all of the chaos, my family urged us all to stay true to who we were. To stay true to the customs that were instilled in us since birth. 

Early in life, I learned how to appreciate my heritage and to ask questions about my lineage. We would attend functions where we would have to wear traditional clothing, eat food that was native to our country, and listen to Salsa románticas and plenas panameñas that would make you get out of your seat to sing and dance. Above all, we experienced summers back in Panama. My favorite tradition was learning how to cook native foods. Every Sunday morning, I would look forward to watching my mother make a Sunday meal. My mother, like other women in my family, worked countless jobs and was adamant about us eating home cooked meals. 

My family influences me each day to be a better person. To share why it is essential to be culturally
responsive and knowledgeable. Although your story and experiences may be different from mine
and began in different parts of the world, at one point our ancestors were all on the same
continent; sharing stories, song, dance and an appreciation for traditions and culture. 

If we truly wish  to break the barriers of systemic racism, inequity and injustice,  we will need
to continue to ask questions about our own ancestral history.